Steve Vai
| Steve Vai | |
|---|---|
 Steve Vai in 2007 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Siro Vai |
| Born | June 6, 1960 Carle Place, New York, USA |
| Genres | Instrumental rock, hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1980 – present |
| Labels | Favored Nations Relativity Records Urantia Records Akashic Records Epic Records |
| Associated acts | Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne, Zappa plays Zappa, Billy Sheehan, G3, Bad4Good, The shardheads |
| Website | Official website |
| Notable instruments | |
| Ibanez JEM Ibanez Universe |
|
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an Italian-American three-time Grammy Award winner, rock guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer. After starting his professional career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. The guitarist began a solo career in 1983 and has released 13 solo albums as of 2008. Apart from his work with Frank Zappa, Vai has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. In 1999 Vai started his own record label, Favored Nations, intending to showcase, as Vai describes, "...artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments."[1]
Career
1970s and 1980s
In 1974, Vai took guitar lessons from guitarist Joe Satriani, and played in numerous local bands, one of which was called "The Steve Vais." He acknowledged the influence of many guitarists including Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Glen Buxton,[2] and jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Vai followed those lessons by attending the Berklee College of Music, afterwards recording a promotional piece for them in which he spoke about auditioning for Frank Zappa at age twenty.
Vai mailed Frank Zappa a transcription of Zappa's "The Black Page", an instrumental for drums, along with a tape with some of Vai's guitar playing. Zappa was so impressed that, in 1979, he hired him to transcribe a number of his guitar solos, including some on the Joe's Garage album and the Shut Up 'n' Play Yer Guitar series. These transcriptions were published in 1982 in The Frank Zappa Guitar Book.
Subsequent to being hired as a transcriber, Vai did overdubs on many of the guitar parts for Zappa's album You Are What You Is. Thereafter he became a full-fledged band member, going on his first tour with Zappa in the autumn of 1980. One of those early shows with Vai on guitar, recorded in Buffalo, was released in 2007. While touring with Zappa's band, Vai sometimes asked audience members to bring musical scores and see if he could sight-read them on the spot. Zappa referred to Vai as his "little Italian virtuoso" and listed him in the liner notes as performing "stunt guitar" or "impossible guitar parts." Later, Vai was a featured artist on the 1993 recording Zappa's Universe. In 2006 he returned to Frank Zappa's music as a special guest on Dweezil Zappa's 'Zappa Plays Zappa' tour, alongside friends from his early years with Zappa.
After leaving Zappa in 1982 he moved to California, where he recorded his first album, Flex-Able, in 1983 and performed in a couple of bands. In 1985 he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz, with whom he recorded the album Disturbing the Peace. Later in 1985, he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums Eat 'Em and Smile and Skyscraper. In a related note, Vai commented recently that he had talked with Roth (and his current relationship with existing Van Halen members) and that (Roth) stated that the forthcoming album with his old bandmantes would either be called "Mammoth" (Wolfgang VanHalen's suggestion) or "Krakatoa Sunrise". Roth is pursuing the latter as he said, "When you wake up to the new (Van Halen) album, it's going to be the biggest sound you ever heard in your life."
In 1986, Vai played with John Lydon's Public Image Ltd on their album Album (also known as Compact Disc or Cassette). Then, in 1989, Vai joined Whitesnake, replacing Vivian Campbell. When Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist shortly before recording was to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue, Vai played all the guitar parts. Vai also played on the Alice Cooper album Hey Stoopid, along with Joe Satriani on the song "Feed my Frankenstein."
1990s and 2000s
Vai continues to tour regularly, with his own group and with his one-time teacher and fellow guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani on the G3 series of tours. Former David Lee Roth and Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan also joined him for a world tour. In 1990, Vai released his critically acclaimed solo album Passion and Warfare
The song "For the Love of God" was voted #29 in a readers' poll of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time in Guitar World Magazine.
In 1994 Vai began writing and recording with Ozzy Osbourne. Only one track from these sessions, "My Little Man", was released on the Ozzmosis album. Despite Vai penning the track he does not appear on the album. His guitar parts were replaced by Zakk Wylde. Another track, "Dyin' Day", appeared as an instrumental on Vai's Fire Garden album. Vai's band members in the 90's included drummer Mike Mangini, guitarist Mike Keneally, and bassist Philip Bynoe. In 1994 Vai received a Grammy Award for his performance on the Frank Zappa song Sofa from the album Zappa's Universe.
Steve Vai released a DVD of his performance at The Astoria in London in December, 2001. The performance featured Billy Sheehan, guitarist/pianist Tony MacAlpine, guitarist Dave Weiner, and Australian drummer Virgil Donati.
In July 2002, Steve Vai performed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan, in the world premiere of composer Ichiro Nodaira's Fire Strings, a concerto for electric guitar and 100-piece orchestra.
In 2004, a number of his compositions and orchestral arrangements including some previously recorded pieces, were performed in The Netherlands by the Metropole Orchestra in a concert series entitled The Aching Hunger. In 2003, drummer Jeremy Colson joined Vai's group, replacing Virgil Donati. Vai's latest album, Sound Theories, was released in 2007.
In February 2005, Vai premiered a dual-guitar (electric and classical) piece that he called The Blossom Suite, with classical guitarist Sharon Isbin at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris. In 2006, Vai played as a special guest guitarist alongside additional guest Zappa band members, drummer Terry Bozzio, guitarist-singer Ray White, and saxophonist-singer Napoleon Murphy Brock in the "Zappa Plays Zappa" tour led by Frank's son Dweezil Zappa in Europe and the U.S. in the Spring, as well as a short U.S. tour in October.
On September 21, 2006, Vai made a special appearance at the Video Games Live concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. He played two songs with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; Halo Theme, and a second song for the world premier trailer for Halo 3.
Steve Vai made an appearance at the London Guitar Show in 2007 on the April 28, 2007 at the ExCeL Center. In late April 2007, Vai confirmed the release of his most recent record, Sound Theories, on June 26. The release is a two-CD set, mostly of previously released material that Vai rearranged and played with a full orchestra. Vai says the project was a great joy because he considers himself a composer more than a guitarist, and he is happy to see music he has composed played by an orchestra that can play it well. A DVD followed the record later that year. He guested on the Dream Theater album, Systematic Chaos, on the song "Repentance". The appearance was vocal rather than instrumental, as Vai was only one of many musical guests recorded. The song features contributions from many artists, with the aim of apologizing to important people in their lives for wrongdoings committed in their pasts. On August 29, 2009, he appeared on stage with Dream Theater during the final show of their Progressive Nation tour at the Greek Theater, where he performed in an improvised jam with the other musicians on tour. Broken Records magazine (Volume 1, Issue 3) quotes Vai as saying, "I enjoy challenging myself to come up with new ideas that I believe are unique."
Video games
"Juice" was featured on the 1996 video game "Formula One" for the PlayStation.
In 1998, "Erotic Nightmares" was featured as the menu music in the video game WCW/nWo Revenge for the Nintendo 64.
Two different songs featuring Steve Vai's guitar-work appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. David Lee Roth's "Yankee Rose" and "God Blessed Video" by Alcatrazz are featured on the game's soundtrack as part of the Lazlow-led, 1980s rock/metal radio station V-Rock.
In 2004, Steve Vai was featured on Xbox's Halo 2 (a game by Bungie Studios) Volume 1 soundtrack, performing a heavy rock-guitar rendition of the Halo theme, known as Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix). He also performed on the track Never Surrender. He later featured in the second volume of the soundtrack, where he performed on the track Reclaimer.
In 2008, Steve Vai's For the Love of God and Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix) were featured as downloadable tracks for the game Guitar Hero 3. A live version of the song "For the Love of God" was also available at release on the Rock Band Network as well as the song "Get the Hell Out of Here" from his 2002 album "The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1" on March 4, 2010.
Movies
Steve Vai's music has appeared in a number of feature films, including Dudes and Ghosts of Mars. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio movie Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio, whose guitar parts were dubbed by Vai and also Ry Cooder, who played the initial slide work in the duel and Macchio's earlier performances in the film. Vai also composed the fast-paced neo-classical track Eugene's Trick Bag that wins Macchio the competition. He based the body of the piece heavily on Paganini's Capriccio number 5. He later borrowed the opening riff from the track Head Cuttin' Duel for a song called Bad Horsie from his 1995 EP Alien Love Secrets. Later, the Crossroads duel reappeared on the 2002 album The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1.
In 1991's Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the introductory riff to KISS' "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II", as performed by the Wyld Stallyns in the Battle of the Bands, was performed by Vai. He also composed and performed the soundtrack to PCU (1994), and made contributions in 2001 to the score for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars, performing on the tracks "Ghosts of Mars" and "Ghost Poppin'." His track, "I'm the Hell Outta Here", can be heard during 1992's Encino Man in the scene where Brendan Fraser is taking a driving lesson. He plays guitar in the animated short film "Live Music".
Playing style
Vai is a virtuoso in the world of guitar music.[3] His 1990 album Passion and Warfare and the ballad For the Love of God in particular received a significant amount of press, and are often cited by critics and fans alike as amongst his best work.[4]
Vai's playing style has been characterized as quirky and angular, owing to his technical ability with the instrument and deep knowledge of music theory. He regularly uses odd rhythmic groupings and his melodies often employ the Lydian mode. Perhaps his most readily-identifiable stylistic feature is his creative use of the floating vibrato, using it to add melodic lines that sound odd to the ear. His playing can also be described as lyrical, as if sung by a human voice. He often uses exotic guitars: he plays both double and triple neck guitars (including a custom-made heart-shaped triple-neck model built by luthier Joe Despagni), and is regarded as the first to use the 7-string guitar in a rock context.[5] Along with Ibanez, he designed a signature 7-string guitar, the Ibanez Universe, in 1989.
Equipment
Vai is also a producer. He owns two studios ("The Mothership" [6] and "The Harmony Hut" [7]), and his own recordings combine his guitar skills and novel compositions with studio and recording effects.
Vai helped design his signature Ibanez JEM guitar series. They feature a hand grip (fondly referred to as a "monkey grip") cut into the top of the body of the guitar, a humbucker–single coil-humbucker (H/S/H) DiMarzio pickup configuration with several different types of pickup including Evolution, Breed and EVO 2. He also uses the Ibanez Edge and Lo-Pro Edge double-locking tremolo systems (the current production JEMs have the newer Edge Pro), as well as an elaborate and extensive "Tree of Life" inlay down the neck. However, the 555 model is widely criticized for being too expensive and finished poorly. Vai also equips many of his guitars with an Ibanez Backstop, a tremolo stabilizer that has been discontinued. Lately Vai has also equipped some of his guitars with True Temperament fretboards to make his chords sound more in tune.[8] Vai also has a 7-string model designed by him named Ibanez Universe, featuring DiMarzio Blaze II pickups in an HSH arrangement. The Universe later influenced the 7-string guitars used by Korn and other bands to create nu metal sounds in the late 1990s. He also has a signature Ibanez acoustic, the Euphoria. Before Ibanez, he briefly endorsed Jackson guitars, but this relationship only lasted two years. His two main guitars are white JEMs dubbed "Evo" and "Flo", each with their own unique modifications.
Steve Vai has also worked with Carvin Guitars and Pro Audio to develop the Carvin Legacy line of guitar amplifiers. Vai wanted to create an affordable amp that was unique, and equal in sound and versatility to any guitar amp he had previously used.[9] Over his long musical career, Steve Vai has used and designed an array of guitars. He even had his blood put into the swirl paint job on one of his signature JEM guitars, the JEM2KDNA.[10] Only 300 of these were made. Currently, he mainly uses his white "Evo", a JEM7V, and his "Flo", which is a customized Floral JEM 77FP painted white. They are both inscribed with their names in two places, mainly so he can distinguish between them onstage. "Flo" is equipped with a Fernandes sustainer system.
He also has a guitar named "Mojo" with dot inlays that are blue LED lights. Additionally, he has a custom-made triple-neck guitar that has the same basic features as his JEM7V guitars. The top neck is a 12-string guitar, the middle is a six-string, and the bottom is a six-string fretless guitar with a Fernandes Sustainer pickup. This guitar was featured on the G3 2003 tour on the piece I Know You're Here. Vai's effects pedals include a modified Boss DS-1, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Morley Bad Horsie, Ibanez Jemini Twin Distortion Pedal, TC Electronics G-System, Morley Little Alligator Volume pedal, Digitech Whammy, and an MXR Phase 90/Phase 100 on the Passion and Warfare album. His flight cases are labeled "Mr. Vai", or lately, "Dr. Vai." He has used a number of rack effects units controlled via MIDI, but used a floor-based TC electronics G system instead for the Zappa Plays Zappa tour.
Philanthropy
In 2005, Vai signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in public schools throughout the U.S. He sits on LKR's Honorary Board of Directors.
Vai was a judge for the 3rd and 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.[11]
Vai is also the founder of the Make A Noise Foundation, which he started with his manager Ruta Sepetys.[12] The foundation's goal is to provide funding for music education and programs for those unable to pursue music-related activities due to limited resources.[13] Vai is also a patron of music education around the world giving master classes in such prestigious music schools as the Fermatta Music Academy.
Favored Nations
Vai owns Favored Nations, a recording and publishing company that specializes in internationally procuring and maintaining recording artists. Favored Nations is separated into three sections, 'Favored Nations', 'Favored Nations Acoustic' and 'Favored Nations Cool (Jazz style)'.
Personal life
Vai is married to Pia Maiocco, former bass player of Vixen, who can be seen in Hardbodies[14].Vai and Maiocco have two children, Julian and Fire. In his spare time Vai is an avid beekeeper.[15] His bees regularly produce a crop of honey that Vai sells for his Make a Noise Foundation.[16]
Band history – not including guest appearances
- Frank Zappa (1980–1982)
- Alcatrazz (1984–1985)
- David Lee Roth (1985–1989)
- Public Image Ltd.
- Whitesnake (1989–1991)
- Solo (1983–present)
Current band members
- Steve Vai – vocals, lead guitar
- Dave Weiner – rhythm guitar, electric sitar
- Ann Marie Calhoun – violin, keyboards
- Alex DePue – violin, keyboards
- Bryan Beller – bass guitar
- Jeremy Colson – drums, percussion
Discography
Solo albums
- Flex-Able (1984)
- Flex-Able Leftovers (1984)
- Passion and Warfare (1990) – Gold (USA),[17] #18 on the Billboard 200 on June 30, 1990
- Sex & Religion (1993)
- Alien Love Secrets (1995)
- Fire Garden (1996)
- The Ultra Zone (1999)
- The 7th Song - Enchanting Guitar Melodies, Archives Vol. 1 (2000)
- Alive in an Ultra World (2001)
- The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1 (2002)
- FZ Original Recordings; Steve Vai Archives, Vol. 2 (2001)
- Mystery Tracks - Archives Vol. 3 (2003)
- Various Artists - Archives Vol. 4 (2003)
- The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology (2003)
- Live In London (2004)
- Piano Reductions Vol. 1: Performed by Mike Keneally (2004)
- Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
- Sound Theories Vol. I & II (2007)
- Naked Tracks (2008)
- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
- Where the Other Wild Things Are (2010)
Appearances on Zappa albums
| Year | Album | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Tinseltown Rebellion | Rhythm guitar, vocals |
| 1981 | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar | Rhythm guitar |
| 1981 | You Are What You Is | Guitar |
| 1982 | Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch | "Impossible Guitar parts" |
| 1983 | The Man from Utopia | Guitar parts |
| 1984 | Them or Us | Guitar |
| 1984 | Thing-Fish | Guitar, vocals |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention | Guitar |
| 1987 | Jazz from Hell | Guitar |
| 1988 | Guitar | Stunt guitar |
| 1988 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Sampler | Stunt guitar |
| 1988 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 | Stunt guitar |
| 1989 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 | Stunt guitar |
| 1991 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 | Stunt guitar, vocals |
| 1991 | Beat the Boots I: As An Am | Stunt guitar |
| 1992 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 | Stunt guitar |
| 1992 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 | Stunt guitar |
| 1995 | Strictly Commercial | Guitar |
| 1997 | Have I Offended Someone? | Guitar |
| 1998 | Cheap Thrills | Guitar |
| 1999 | Son of Cheep Thrills | Guitar, vocals |
With other artists
| Year | Artist | Album | RIAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Lisa Popeil | Lisa Popeil | |
| 1985 | Heresy | At The Door | |
| 1985 | Alcatrazz | Disturbing the Peace | |
| 1985 | Public Image Ltd. | Album | |
| 1986 | Bob Harris | The Great Nostalgia | |
| 1986 | Shankar & Caroline | The Epidemics | |
| 1986 | David Lee Roth | Eat 'Em and Smile | Platinum |
| 1986 | Randy Coven | Funk Me Tender | |
| 1987 | Danny Mendez | Death to All Mankind | |
| 1986 | Western Vacation | Western Vacation | |
| 1988 | David Lee Roth | Skyscraper | Platinum |
| 1989 | Whitesnake | Slip of the Tongue | 3x Platinum |
| 1990 | Rebecca | The Best of Dreams | |
| 1991 | Alice Cooper | Hey Stoopid | |
| 1994 | Whitesnake | Whitesnake's Greatest Hits | Platinum |
| 1995 | Ozzy Osbourne | Ozzmosis (cowriter on one song) | 2x Platinum |
| 1996 | Wild Style | Cryin' | |
| 1997 | Munetaka Higuchi with Dream Castle | Free World | |
| 1997 | Joe Satriani / Eric Johnson / Steve Vai | G3: Live in Concert | |
| 1997 | David Lee Roth | The Best | |
| 1998 | Gregg Bissonette | Gregg Bissonette | |
| 1998 | Al Di Meola | The Infinite Desire | |
| 1999 | Joe Jackson | Symphony No. 1 | |
| 2000 | Whitesnake | The Back to Black Collection | |
| 2000 | Gregg Bissonette | Submarine | |
| 2000 | Thana Harris | Thanatopsis | |
| 2000 | Andrew Dice Clay | Face Down, Ass Up | |
| 2001 | Robin DiMaggio | Blue Planet | |
| 2001 | Billy Sheehan | Compression | |
| 2002 | Tak Matsumoto | Hana | |
| 2003 | Surinder Sandhu | Saurang Orchestra | |
| 2002 | Girls Together Outrageously (G.T.O) | Solo in their cover version of "I'll Be Around" | |
| 2003 | Eric Sardinas | Black Pearls | |
| 2003 | Steve Lukather & Friends | Santamental | |
| 2003 | Hughes Turner Project | HTP 2 | |
| 2003 | Shankar & Gingger | One in a Million | |
| 2003 | Yardbirds | Birdland | |
| 2004 | Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen | G3: Live – Rockin' In The Free World | |
| 2004 | Motörhead | Inferno | |
| 2004 | Bob Carpenter | The Sun, The Moon, The Stars | |
| 2004 | Mike Keneally | Vai: Piano Reductions, Vol. 1 | |
| 2005 | John 5 | Songs for Sanity | |
| 2005 | Dave Weiner | Live at Astoria DVD | |
| 2005 | Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci | G3: Live in Tokyo | |
| 2006 | The Devin Townsend Band | Synchestra | |
| 2006 | Marty Friedman | Loudspeaker | |
| 2006 | Meat Loaf | Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose | Gold |
| 2007 | Dream Theater (spoken voice only) | Systematic Chaos | |
| 2007 | Eros Ramazzotti | e² | |
| 2008 | Jason Becker | [Collection] | |
| 2009 | Spinal Tap | Back from the dead | |
| 2009 | Mike Stern | Big Neighborhood | |
| 2009 | Orianthi | Believe | |
| 2010 | Alcatrazz | Disturbing the Peace Tour Live in Japan 1984.10.10 Audio Tracks | |
| 2010 | Meat Loaf | Hang Cool Teddy Bear |
Soundtracks
| Year | Soundtrack | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Crossroads | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 1987 | Dudes | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 1991 | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 1992 | Encino Man | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 1994 | PCU | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 1997 | Formula 1 | Original Video Game Soundtrack |
| 2001 | Ghosts of Mars | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| 2004 | Halo 2 Soundtrack Volume 1 | Original Video Game Soundtrack |
| 2006 | Halo 2 Soundtrack Volume 2 | Original Video Game Soundtrack |
| 2008 | Guitar Hero III: Virtuoso Track Pack | Original Video Game Soundtrack |
Compilations
| Year | Artists | Compilation |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Various | Guitar's Practicing Musicians |
| 1993 | Various | Zappa's Universe |
| 1995 | Various | In From The Storm |
| 1996 | Various | Songs of West Side Story |
| 1997 | Various | Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas |
| 1997 | Various | Angelica |
| 1999 | Various | Radio Disney Kid Jams |
| 2001 | Various | Roland Guitar Masters |
| 2002 | Various | Guitars For Freedom |
| 2002 | Various | Warmth In The Wilderness Vol. II – A Tribute to Jason Becker |
| 2004 | Various | Halo 2 Original Soundtrack |
| 2004 | Various | The Sounds Of Nascar |
| 2006 | Various | Monsters of Rock |
| 2008 | Various | Zappa Plays Zappa |
| 2008 | Steve Vai | Naked Tracks |
Awards and Nominations [18]
Grammy Winner
- 1994 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Sofa" from Zappa's Universe
- 2001 Best Pop Instrumental No Substitutions [Steve Vai Producer/Engineer]
- 2009 "Peaches En Regalia" – Zappa Plays Zappa
Grammy Nomination
- 1990 Best Rock Instrumental Album Passion & Warfare
- 1995 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Tender Surrender" – from Alien Love Secrets
- 1997 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "For the Love of God" – from G3 Live in Concert
- 1999 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Windows to the Soul" – from The Ultra Zone
- 2001 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Whispering a Prayer" – from Alive in an Ultra World
- 2006 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Lotus Feet" — lost to Les Paul & Friends's "69 Freedom Special"
- 2008 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "The Attitude Song" — lost to Bruce Springsteen's "Once Upon a Time in the West"
- 2010 Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Now We Run" – from Where the Wild Things Are.
Guitar Player magazine
1995 Gallery of Greats
1995 Best Rock Guitarist (Tie with Jimmy Page)
1995 Best Overall Guitarist - 3rd Place
1995 Best Experimental Guitarist (tie with Buckethead)
1995 Best Metal Recording - 3rd Place
1995 Best Overall Guitar Recording - 2nd Place
1995 Best Metal Guitarist - 3rd Place
1990 Best Rock Guitarist
1990 Best Overall Guitarist
1990 Best Guitar Album
1990 Best Metal Guitarist
1989 Best Rock Guitarist
1988 Best Rock Guitarist
1987 Best Rock Guitarist
1987 Best Overall Guitarist
1986 Best Rock Guitarist
Guitar World
1990 Most Valued Player (tie with Stevie Ray Vaughan)
1990 Best Album
1990 Best Rock Guitarist
1990 Best Guitar Solo (For the Love of God)
1989 Best Rock Guitarist
International Music Award Nomination
1990 Best Guitarist
Select magazine (UK)
1990 Best Album (Passion and Warfare)
1990 Best Musician
1990 Sexiest Male
Guitar for the Practicing Musician
1993 Editor's Choice Award
1990 Reader's Choice – Guitar Album of the Year
1990 Best Instrumental Guitarist of the Year
1988 Rock Guitarist of the Year
1987 Hall of Fame
1986 Guitar in the 90's Award
Kerrang (UK)
1993 Best Hard Rock Performance
1990 Guitarist of the Year
1989 Best Rock Guitarist
Young Guitar (Japan)
1991 Best Rock Guitarist
1997 Best Rock Guitarist
Rock Brigade
1996 Best Guitarist
1997 Best Guitarist
RAW
1990 Best Selling LP Sleeve (No. 1)
1990 Best Selling Promo Video (No. 5, I Would Love To)
1990 Best Selling Promo Video (No. 7, The Audience is Listening)
1990 Best Sex Object (No. 6)
1990 Best RAW Cover (No. 3)
Player
1995 Best Hard Rock Guitarist – 2nd Place
Making Music
1990 Best Album
1990 Best Guitarist
1990 Best Musician
Metal Hammer
1990 Best Guitarist (Reader's Poll)
California Music Awards
2001 Outstanding Guitarist (nominee)
Golden Stag Awards Romania
2009 Excellence Prize
See also
- List of rock instrumentals
- Steve Vai songs
References
- ↑ "Message from Favored Nations President, Steve Vai". Favorednations.com. http://www.favorednations.com/FN_about.html. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ Jeff Kitts and Brad Tolinski. Guitar World presents one hundred greatest guitarists of all time
- ↑ "www.mtv.com". www.mtv.com. 1960-06-06. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/vai_steve/artist.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "''Passion And Warfare Review'' at Yahoo Music, July 13, 2005, Retrieved February 27, 2008". Uk.music.yahoo.com. 2005-07-13. http://uk.music.yahoo.com/read/review/14179284. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ ""All About Steve,7-String Guitar"". http://www.vai.com/AllAboutSteve/vaiography.html.Retrieved October 22, 2009
- ↑ ""The Mothership Studio"". http://www.mothershipstudio.com/.
- ↑ ""The Studios"". http://www.vai.com/Machines/studios.html.
- ↑ "Fretting systems". True Temperament. http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ Carvin Steve Vai Legacy Amplifiers
- ↑ "JEM Specs – Anniversary Guitars". Jemsite.com. 2000-10-04. http://www.jemsite.com/articles-menu/jem-specs-anniversary-guitars/. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "Past Judges". Independent Music Awards. http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "Steve talks about the new DVD and more". Steve Vai (Vai.com). http://www.vai.com/index_wildthings/index.html. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- ↑ "Welcome to The Make A Noise Foundation!". Make A Noise. http://www.makeanoise.com/. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "Hardbodies". Imdb.com. http://imdb.com/title/tt0087385/. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "All About Steve". Vai.com. http://www.vai.com/AllAboutSteve/bees/index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "Make A Noise Foundation homepage". Vai.com. http://www.vai.com/MANF/index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "Gold & Platinum – February 25, 2010". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ↑ "All about Steve > Awards and Honors". Vai.com. 2002-02-27. http://www.vai.com/AllAboutSteve/awards.html. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
External links
- Steve Vai's Official homepage
- Steve Vai at Allmusic
- Audio Interview with Steve Vai on Guitar Jam Daily
- Billboard.com Discography of Steve Vai
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||